Another day, another leader stepping down at a key role in HHS.

On Thursday, two Democratic Senators announced during a hearing that Jeffrey Taubenberger stepped down as acting director of NIH’s infectious disease institute, Reuters reports.¹ This news comes as reports continue to surface of ongoing outbreaks of Ebola and Hantavirus.

Taubenberger only took on the role in April 2025.

Why did Taubenberger step down as acting director of NIH’s infectious disease institute?

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya was at the hearing and did not dispute the claims of Taubenberger’s departure. Taubenberger had originally been scheduled to testify at the hearing, but did not show up, prompting to Senator Tammy Baldwin to reveal the news.

Baldwin called the vacancy in leadership during a potential outbreak a “great concern.

Jeanne Marrazzo, who held the role prior to being replaced by Taubenberger, criticized the agency’s failure to work with researchers and industry to address the Ebola outbreak.

The Ebola outbreak is just one of multiple situations that NIH is monitoring.

In March, Marrazzo spoke with Pharmaceutical Executive about a measles outbreak occurring within the US. When asked about the driving the resurgence, she said, “The current outbreak is really being driven by two factors. One is an increasing pool of people who are susceptible because they haven't been vaccinated. Measles vaccine is very effective, but the second factor is that Measles is probably one of the most contagious viruses you will ever encounter, so all it takes is a relatively small number of people who haven't been vaccinated and don't have protective immunity to really set off a chain of events that spreads like wildfire, and that's exactly what we're seeing happening.”

She continued, “It's the biggest outbreak of measles we've seen in decades in the United States. In fact, we have lost our measles elimination status because of this outbreak as a country, as have neighboring countries, and it's so big right now, particularly in South Carolina, that we're hearing about complications in kids, which are really devastating.”

Marrazzo added, “We already know there have been a number of deaths. Mexico alone has had 28 people die of the measles, and we're hearing about kids who are being hospitalized for some of the worst complications of measles, things like paralysis and brain inflammation. So, it's a pretty big deal compared to anything we've experienced before. “

This just the latest example of a key leader stepping down from their role at HHS. As Pharmaceutical Executive has previously covered, FDA leader Marty Makary recently stepped down following reported clashes with the White House and industry leaders over a series of controversial decisions regarding drug approvals and vaccine policies.

Kyle Diamantas is serving as acting commissioner.

Following Makary’s departure, acting director of CDER Tracy Beth Høeg was fired. She announced her firing on X (previously Twitter), and reportedly refused to resign prior to her termination.

Also, acting head of CBER Katherine Szarama is reportedly on her way out as well. She only stepped into role recently, filling in after previous head Vinay Prasad stepped down (for the second time in as many years).

It’s unclear how many of these roles will be filled in a timely manner, especially with the administration focused on the upcoming midterm elections, which will potentially delay the naming of any potentially controversial figures to these leadership positions.

Source

1. Acting head of US NIH infectious disease institute has left, senators say. Reuters. May 21, 2026. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/acting-head-us-nih-infectious-disease-institute-has-left-senators-say-2026-05-21/